Sunday May 5, 2013 Day 34 Finished Camp Nou
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Live Commentary
Time:90'- FC Barcelona
- Real Betis
90+4 FULL TIME. And that's it. Finished. Eleven points is the gap and only twelve to play for.
90+4 Messi. Stop it. Incredible. He jinks this way and that, beats three men and then tries to lift the ball over Adrián but the keeper reads it to make the save.- 90+3 Tello has looked superb tonight too.
- 90+2 Three of the added stuff.
- 90+1 It seems a long time ago now that Barca were staring defeat in the face – obviously, the introduction of Messi completely changed the complexion of this fixture.
- 90' Barca are only one win from the title now.
- 88' Piqué breaks forward with the ball now and charges into midfield but he over-runs the ball and the chance has gone.
- 86' Betis, in seventh, will just want to get off the pitch here as they search for a European place.
85' Busquets comes on for Alex Song now – who gets a decent reception and has played well.- 84' Dani Alves, who is having more of an impact on proceedings this half, crosses looking for Messi but it is just cut out for a corner.
- 83' The hosts have Betis pinned back now - and they will open up an eleven point lead at the top of the table.
- 82' Alves slides Messi through, the Betis defenders stop expecting offside but he was level says the linesman and this could be the hat-trick - but the angle is too tight and his cut-back is cleared! Looked a few inches offside to me!
- 81' Thiago wide to Iniesta, who uncharacteristically miscontrols. Still Barca attack though...
- 80' Barca playing it about patiently - from a tough position that could have seen their title defence under threat, they are well and truly in command now.
- 79' Betis think they should have a throw but Campbell adjudged to have got the final touch so a Barca throw. Alves appeal worked.
- 78' Alexis Sánchez is off for Thiago.
- 77' The hosts are keeping the ball as only they can.
76' Slight hiatus for the injury to Alexis Sánchez.- 75' Xavi with a delightful lofted through-ball to Alexis Sánchez, who is in a foot race with Adrián. The bounce of the ball just favours the keeper who makes the save and in the process upends the Chilean.
- 74' That fourth goal from Messi was the home side at their absolute best.
- 73' Barca are flying forward now.
- 72' This is an outrageous turnaround.
71' GOOOAL!!! Unbelievable. What a goal. Messi slips the ball in for Iniesta who back-heels to Alexis Sánchez, who comes inside his man and squares for Messi to score a beauty.- 70' Betis are still in this and Adriano has to make a last ditch challenge to prevent Pabon from equalising.
- 68' Messi, this time from the other side of the box, gets the free-kick up and over the wall and he has Adrián beaten but it comes back off the bar.
- 67' Campbell on for Nosa Igiebor, who looks like he is injured.
- 66' Tello now runs at Amaya and throws two step overs to draw the foul and Messi and Xavi are over it. Betis really shouldn’t be giving away a free-kick there.
- 65' Messi picks up the ball on the right and he runs at his man but plays a stray pass as he looks to find Iniesta. Amongst all his brilliance, he doesn’t look fit.
- 64' There is a certain level of calm with the little genius on the pitch – it just seems more harmonious.
63' Alexis Sánchez makes his run a fraction too soon and, while Xavi’s ball is inch perfect, the assistant referee’s flag is aloft.- 62' Alba exchanges passes with Tello down the left as they combine again but the left-back just over-runs the ball.
- 61' One step with that free-kick. No run up. Limited back-lift. It is just incredible.
- 60' MESSI!! Almost his first touch. Incredible. What a goal. Free-kick top corner. Messi. Unbelievable. Top corner. 3-2.
- 59' Dani Alves wins a free-kick just outside the box and right of centre.
- 58' Bit harsh that – he scored and was literally subbed whilst celebrating.
- 57' And Villa is hooked for Messi.
- 56'' GOOOAL!! Xavi with a majestic pass out wide to Dani Alves and his cross is a decent one but Adrián or Mario should deal with it. Neither do so Villa stoops to head his side level.
54' Rubén Pérez is late on Alex Song and he is in the book.- 53' Messi doing up his laces - he'll be on soon.
- 52' This has the potential to be the greatest collapse of all time – it probably won’t happen, to be fair.
- 50' Madrid play twice before Barca play again in the league so if they fail to win here then the advantage at the top of the table could be down to two points.
- 49' It is 13 months since Barca last lost at home in the league.
- 48' Messi is going through his stretching exercises - surely only a matter of time.
- 47' Beñat on for Molina for the visitors.
46' Barca get us going.- 45+1 Nope they can't, join us for the second half in 15 or so.
- 45' Can Barca nab a leveller before half-time?
- 44' Adriano, it looks like, is in the book for a late challenge.
- 43' GGOOOOAL!! Oh dear. Nosa Igiebor holds the ball well before finding Rubén Pérez who takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet and unleash an unstoppable strike into the top left corner. What a strike.
- 42' Will Barca regret these misses?
- 41' Piqué switches the ball looking for Tello. Chica reads it but his dreadful defensive header is straight to Tello, who shows admirable composure to come inside Mario and strike on goal. Adrián is beaten but it comes back off the bar and bounces out.
- 40' The ball is worked wide to Alba who is encouraged to shoot but, leaning back, it is always rising.
- 39' This is an incredibly open game.
- 38' High foot from Nosa Igiebor and that’s a free kick in the middle of midfield.
- 36' Tello again. This time he comes off the left, cuts inside and sends a curler on target but Adrián reads it.
- 35' Tello is at again down that left side. He feeds Iniesta who lifts the ball to Sánchez but the Chilean, who had done well to peel off, takes an awful touch and the ball dribbles out for a goal kick.
- 34' The way in which Barca use the width of the pitch is something to behold.
- 33' Tello is a real threat – he has grown as a player this season. Xavi sends a ball out to him on the right and he comes inside his man before teeing up the arriving Iniesta but his shot is deflected over.
- 32' Adrián has done well thus far – he has commanded his box well and swept up behind his defenders when needed.
- 31' Barca really need to get that second.
- 30' That was a big chance for Villa and Adrián comes to claim the corner with ease.
- 29' Tello ghosts past two Betis defenders with a great change of pace and hits the byline before cutting back for Villa but his effort is saved.
- 28' The corner is cleared with ease.
- 27' Villa is in behind. He takes a great first touch into his stride and fires a half-volley on target but Adrián is equal to it with his legs.
- 26' Salva Sevilla arrives late and unmarked to volley on goal but Pinto is equal to it - just about.
- 25' Another spate of passing comes to an end with a disappointing finish. This time Xavi’s shot, while well-struck, never threatens the goal of Adrian as he claims with ease.
- 24' Barca monopolising possession here but they need to register a goal.
- 23' WHAT A MISS. A lofted pass from Iniesta sees Xavi inside the Betis box with time and space. Instead of taking it down and firing on goal he lifts a wonderful pass over the retreating Mario and into the run of Villa, who, from no more than eight yards out, smashes the ball high and into the stands.
- 22' Three on one situation for Barca but Villa elects to shoot first time when he should have taken a touch. Adrián gets down to it pretty easily.
- 21' What a ball from Dani Alves. His lofted pass looks to have Villa through but he hesitates and allows the keeper to come and claim.
- 20' Xavi and Iniesta exchange passes but when the former looks for Sánchez on the right the ball has too much on it and it runs out for a throw.
- 19' Villa and Xavi have a little heated chat following a miss-placed ball from Xavi.
- 18' Xavi lifts the ball to Sánchez but the Chilean was offside.
- 16' Adriano is plying his trade in the centre of defence again and he is struggling - not his fault to be fair.
- 14' Betis look dangerous every time they go forward too – this time Pabon crosses for Jorge Molina and he gets across his man to head just wide.
- 13' Iniesta looks for Tello again and the youngster has the beating of Chica every single time. This time, Mario comes across to help his colleague out.
- 12' Sánchez looking bright again down the right but he takes a heavy touch and then goes in late on his man – Betis are struggling with the pace down the channels.
- 10' Xavi plays Tello in down the left and he thrashes the ball across the box but it is just in front of Villa.
- 9' GOOOAL!!! Iniesta jinks this way and that to make his way into the box. Villa goes near post and draws the Betis defence’s attention allowing Alexis Sánchez to sneak in at the back post with a diving header to level things up. 1-1.
- 8' The hosts appear to have recovered from the early shock and begin to play the ball around well and Betis are struggling to get out.
- 6' Villa is looking bright – he just goes a fraction too soon though and is offside.
- 5' No Messi and a goal down - this is the worst start possible for the hosts.
- 4' Half a chance for Villa. Alba whips a ball into the box and Villa is in front of Mario and, while he gets to the ball first, the defender’s presence puts him off. Over.
- 2' GOOOAL!!! DREADFUL START. Dreadful. Pabon with it. Pinto goes long, a Betis head heads it back. Song misses it, Pique is out of position and Pabon runs on to it and slots it under Pinto. Awful.
- 2' Barca are in a desperate need of a result.
1' And Betis get us underway. They go long and it is straight out on the full.- 19:55 Barca: Pinto, Dani Alves, Piqué, A. Correia, Alba, Song, Xavi, Iniesta, Sánchez, Tello, D. Villa. Subs: O. Olazábal, Thiago, Messi, Busquets, Bartra, Montoya, Deulofeu /// Real Betis: Adrián, Chica, Mario, Amaya, Martínez, R. Pérez, S. Sevilla, D. Pabon, N. Igiebor, Castro, Jorge Molina Subs: Beñat ,Fabricio, J. Campbell, Vadillo, Perez Lopez, Caro Varela.
- 19:50 News filtering through that Messi is on the bench – teams coming right up.
- 19:45 Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage from La Liga where Barcelona face Real Betis at the Camp Nou.
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Summary
- 90+4 Messi. Stop it. Incredible. He jinks this way and that, beats three men and then tries to lift the ball over Adrián but the keeper reads it to make the save.
- 82' Alves slides Messi through, the Betis defenders stop expecting offside but he was level says the linesman and this could be the hat-trick - but the angle is too tight and his cut-back is cleared! Looked a few inches offside to me!
- 75' Xavi with a delightful lofted through-ball to Alexis Sánchez, who is in a foot race with Adrián. The bounce of the ball just favours the keeper who makes the save and in the process upends the Chilean.
- 71' GOOOAL!!! Unbelievable. What a goal. Messi slips the ball in for Iniesta who back-heels to Alexis Sánchez, who comes inside his man and squares for Messi to score a beauty.
- 70' Betis are still in this and Adriano has to make a last ditch challenge to prevent Pabon from equalising.
- 68' Messi, this time from the other side of the box, gets the free-kick up and over the wall and he has Adrián beaten but it comes back off the bar.
- 60' MESSI!! Almost his first touch. Incredible. What a goal. Free-kick top corner. Messi. Unbelievable. Top corner. 3-2.
- 56'' GOOOAL!! Xavi with a majestic pass out wide to Dani Alves and his cross is a decent one but Adrián or Mario should deal with it. Neither do so Villa stoops to head his side level.
- 50' Madrid play twice before Barca play again in the league so if they fail to win here then the advantage at the top of the table could be down to two points.
- 43' GGOOOOAL!! Oh dear. Nosa Igiebor holds the ball well before finding Rubén Pérez who takes a touch to get the ball out of his feet and unleash an unstoppable strike into the top left corner. What a strike.
- 41' Piqué switches the ball looking for Tello. Chica reads it but his dreadful defensive header is straight to Tello, who shows admirable composure to come inside Mario and strike on goal. Adrián is beaten but it comes back off the bar and bounces out.
- 35' Tello is at again down that left side. He feeds Iniesta who lifts the ball to Sánchez but the Chilean, who had done well to peel off, takes an awful touch and the ball dribbles out for a goal kick.
- 29' Tello ghosts past two Betis defenders with a great change of pace and hits the byline before cutting back for Villa but his effort is saved.
- 27' Villa is in behind. He takes a great first touch into his stride and fires a half-volley on target but Adrián is equal to it with his legs.
- 23' WHAT A MISS. A lofted pass from Iniesta sees Xavi inside the Betis box with time and space. Instead of taking it down and firing on goal he lifts a wonderful pass over the retreating Mario and into the run of Villa, who, from no more than eight yards out, smashes the ball high and into the stands.
- 9' GOOOAL!!! Iniesta jinks this way and that to make his way into the box. Villa goes near post and draws the Betis defence’s attention allowing Alexis Sánchez to sneak in at the back post with a diving header to level things up. 1-1.
- 2' GOOOAL!!! DREADFUL START. Dreadful. Pabon with it. Pinto goes long, a Betis head heads it back. Song misses it, Pique is out of position and Pabon runs on to it and slots it under Pinto. Awful.
- 19:55 Barca: Pinto, Dani Alves, Piqué, A. Correia, Alba, Song, Xavi, Iniesta, Sánchez, Tello, D. Villa. Subs: O. Olazábal, Thiago, Messi, Busquets, Bartra, Montoya, Deulofeu /// Real Betis: Adrián, Chica, Mario, Amaya, Martínez, R. Pérez, S. Sevilla, D. Pabon, N. Igiebor, Castro, Jorge Molina Subs: Beñat ,Fabricio, J. Campbell, Vadillo, Perez Lopez, Caro Varela.
Team Line-up & Ratings
FC BarcelonaManager: Tito Vilanova
Real BetisManager: Pepe Mel
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Line-up
Live Team Line-Up
Starting line-up
Subs
- O. Olazábal
- Thiago
79′ - L. Messi 56′
×2 - S. Busquets 87′
- M. Bartra
- M. Montoya
- G. Deulofeu
Starting line-up
Subs
- Beñat 45′
- Fabricio
- J. Campbell 69′
- &. Vadillo 59′
- J. Perez Lopez
- J. Caro
- Varela
- Beñat
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Rate Players
Messi is the best player ever!!!
Barca is a joke of a team that match fixes at the best of times. It will never compete with the likes of English and German football. I spit on your club blaaaah.....
I am a barcelonista but let me admit this; barca is currently weak and this is because the coach is quite weak and barca needs to buy new defenders ... But the thing i know for sure is that MESSI is the best PLAYER in the UNIVERSE. (I bet ronaldo was crying last night) .. Barcelona you're the BEST
It's so pathetic how dependent this team is on only one player
Is it correct to say 'no Barcelona without Messi'? Dear Messi, be discouraged not because your team is not in eufa finals; just because you were unfit to play, Barcelona #$%$ everything up, even including La Liga, where you have to get up to save your team. I hope, based on your experience, you will be able to advice your club's management to start scouting for better players who will work with you to make Barcelona be what it is supposed to be. From goal keeping up to attacking force, rehabilitation is needed and I believe Vilanova is now well enough to think in that direction. Long live Messi!
WOW MASSIVE SUPRISE BARCA WON!! WOW look below to naysayers
messssssssi y will win the 5th 6th 7th ballon de our , y are the best ever
You can't rely on just one player. That's sad.
guardiola robbed us of a thriller by wussing out and not bringing messi on vs bayern amazing how mediocre barcelona are without messi, xavi and iniesta are great players but without messi i doubt they would finish top 3
Messi is just out of this world. If he had been fully fit, the Barca vs Bayern tie would've been much closer.
This is Messi! the greatest of all in the history off soccer!
No Arsenal suck. Get real. Keep dreaming. Barca have couple bad games and everyone thinks they can beat them.
practice game for messi!visca barca
Awesome man yeah barca is going to win da match n messi is going to score once more
Wow-Messi is unreal. And My team rely on him way to much.
Real Betis are like. #$%$ menh messi is in !!
and as messi entered the game changed.
come on betis you can win this
